Town Sprucer Peter Phillips is being spared official action following a tree cutting row.

Shepway District Council had called him in for a grilling over allegations of cutting trees in a conservation area without permission.

But it has now cancelled the interview and will take no further action.

The row erupted over work to clear rubbish and overgrowth at Westbourne Gardens, Folkestone.

It led to a protest petition, with 604 names by today, accusing the council of launching a "witch-hunt'' on Mr Phillips.

But a statement today by the council said: "The council will not interview Peter Phillips under caution, in connection with removing trees and branches at Westbourne Gardens.

"Peter Phillips will not face prosecution or any legal action as the council is confident that he was acting in good faith and under instruction.''

The statement added: "Shepway District Council always takes potential breaches to tree conservation seriously.''

Mr Phillips had originally faced a £20,000 fine for allegedly cutting protected trees in a conservation area without a permit.

His supporters say that he was trying to clear a mess off flytipping, needles and excess overgrowth and cutting was needed to get to layers of waste dumped beneath the trees.

David Taylor, of residents' group the Bradstone Association, which runs the sprucer scheme, said the need for this special permission was not know at the time of the work.

He was interviewed by Shepway officials under caution last Thursday and then Mr Phillips was summoned to appear before the same officers on May 12.

Mr Taylor accused the council of being heavy handed.

The online protest petition was set up by resident Richard Moffat and demanded a total stoppage of official action and a permit to allow the clearing to be done.